Plagued by injuries, U.S. soccer team faces strong Honduran squad

Posted: Wednesday, March 28, 2001

The Associated Press

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (AP) - Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride and Eddie Pope were dropped from the U.S. roster for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier at Honduras, leaving the Americans without four key starters.

The U.S. team already was missing forward Joe-Max Moore, who tore a calf muscle in a 2-0 win over Mexico on Feb. 28. That was the first of 10 games for the United States in the final round of qualifying in the North and Central American and Caribbean region.

Neither Moore nor the other three injured players made the trip to Honduras.

Reyna, the team's central midfielder, hasn't played since straining a groin against Mexico.

McBride, the top U.S. forward, recovered from the eye injury that knocked him out early in the Mexico game but sprained his right knee in collision during practice Saturday, an injury that might cause him to miss the April 25 qualifier against Costa Rica.

Pope, a defender, couldn't overcome an injured toe. Backup forward Landon Donovan broke two ribs in last week's FIFA Under-20 Championship qualifying and also was dropped.

"Despite the number of injuries, we have tremendous balance on the team and we anticipate a good performance," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said after Tuesday night's practice at Olympic Stadium. "We have a solid defense, a good midfield. This team can win tomorrow."

He said he was pleasantly surprised by the cool, light evening breeze in a city noted for sweltering daytime temperatures.

"The conditions are better than we thought," he said.

Brad Friedel, who shut out Mexico at Columbus, Ohio, appeared likely to start in goal over Kasey Keller, the starter during the 1998 World Cup.

Ante Razov and Josh Wolff are scheduled to start at forward, with Chris Armas, Cobi Jones, Clint Mathis and Earnie Stewart in midfield, and Jeff Agoos, Carlos Llamosa, David Regis and Tony Sanneh on defense.

Wolff, who came in for McBride, scored the first goal against Mexico off a pass from Mathis, who replaced Reyna. Stewart scored the second goal off a pass from Wolff.

"I'm looking forward to going into these games knowing that I can play," Mathis said. "We're fortunate that we're playing at night. You put together the heat and humidity with the crowd and the conditions can be rather difficult."

Honduras hasn't qualified for a World Cup since 1982.

"I think everybody left in the region has a lot of respect for each other," Sanneh said. "We can't take it for granted. We beat a great team in Mexico, but we were also playing at home. The other teams respect us, and we respect them, and we know that we need to get points at home and fight for what we can away. Other teams are always going after us, being a bigger country and a world power."

Honduras has mostly local-based players, but team captain Carlos Pavon is a forward for Morelia of the Mexican League.

Honduras is wary after the Americans' win over Mexico.

"They do not despair," Honduras midfielder Jose Luis Pineda said. "They concentrate, and when they arrive near the goal, they are very dangerous." Notes: Fs Preki Radosavljevic of Miami and Chris Albright of D.C. United were added to the U.S. roster. ... The United States is 2-1-3 against Honduras. In the last matchup, the nations played a 1-1 tie in December 1994, at Fullerton, Calif. In the last game between the countries in San Pedro Sula, in March 1965, Honduras won 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier.